Obverse

Reverse

Inscription of five lines, probably beginning with a cross. Decoration below. Border of dots.

.ΚΕΘ,.ΣΔ,.ΜΗΤ.ΟΠΟΛΙΤ.ΚΑΡΙΑ 

Κύριε βοήθειτῷ σῷ δούλῳἸωάννῃ μητροπολίτῃ Καρίας

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἰωάννῃ μητροπολίτῃ Καρίας.

Lord, help your servant John metropolitan of Karia.

Commentary

Laurent noted two complete specimens in the Vienna Museum. He may well be right in saying that the owner of this seal is the metropolitan John who signed a synodal act of May 1030 and was replaced by 1032; another John of Karia signed the tomos of Sisinnios in 997. Yet another was in charge later in the 11th century (Nesbitt, "Seals from Aphrodisias," 161-62, no. 6).